I know there are some people like myself who actually like Sense and doing a 'full' root can be daunting, especailly if all you want to do is remove the crud that Vodafone or your Telco install on your branded Legend. But there is no reason this can't be used to remove apps that are in a custom ROM - as far as I am aware! If someone with a custom ROM could confirm this, that would be great!
Righto, as per usual here is the disclaimer - doing this is risky and you do so at your own peril! Don't come crying to me or Paul @ MoDaCo if it bricks your phone (it shouldn't but this is just a warning)
Enough of that you get the idea Now for the fun bit!
First if you are not you'll need VISIONary+ from MoDaCo, at the time of this writing r13 is the latest and is available on page 7.
Please read and check the original post as there may be an updated version. If you are rooted skip to the next step.
This is Paul's guide he done quickly on his G2, it's more of a pictorial guide (same rules apply to the Legend as G2 in this case).
Once installed use the Temproot option, this can take 15 seconds or so to complete, use a Terminal Emulator and type su then return/enter and your $ should change to a # - this means you have temproot.
Go to the market and install SuperUser, Titanium Backup, BusyBox.
Open Titanium Backup allowing it root access when prompted, go to Backup/Restore and scroll to find one of the preinstalled bloatware apps, I chose the Vodafone Music app and the Vodafone Web app.
Long hold on the app you want to remove and scroll down a bit and choose the option "Force remove app (by recovery exploit)"
This will reboot your phone TWICE, you will get the recovery screen up - LET IT RUN IT's COURSE! DO NOT INTERRUPT THIS.
Once it boots back into your normal check that the app is no longer in your App drawer
Repeat for all the Apps that came preinstalled that you don't want, just be careful you don't remove anything that may still be needed!
A huge thanks to Paul at MoDaCo for this ingenious hack and the Titanium Backup, BusyBox and SuperUser developers for their hard work in writing their apps which also allow us to easy do this
Oh and you can use the Temproot on boot to have a sortof but not fully permaroot
Great work. I'll try on CM 6.1 RC1. One thing though...If I'm rooted I presume I need only the Titanium backup not VISIONary or other tools, right?
Yes you need the other apps, but you can remove them afterwards if you want. You'll need SuperUser to be able to grant Titanium Backup access, and Titanium Backup requires BusyBox to be installed - Titanium Backup gives you the option to install BusyBox if you press the 'Problems?' button under the Overview tab.
PS: you can use the free version of Titanium Backup for this exercise.
Yes, thank you. I knew about busybox and the option to install it from Titanium. SuperUser I have it already since I'm using CyanogenMod RC1 and it is included in the ROM (I think it is OK like this). So only Titanium (+busybox) needs to be installed.
I'll give it a try and let you know the results. I'll try to remove a rather large application (for ex Google Maps) and I'll install it afterward on the sdcard (since it is system appl, it cannot be moved directly to sdcard)
Later edit: IT WORKS! So I've tried to (and succeeded) remove 2 "system" applications: Google Maps and Calculator. Both were removed and the free space is now available (before 80 Mb free, after 91.2 Mb free).
There was only one issue with Maps, the icon still showed up in the application drawer and it was working (even after going through all above). After several checks I found the reason. The Maps were installed twice...the version included in the CM ROM (that was deleted by this procedure) AND the updated Maps (it once asked for upgrading the application from the market and I did that). After removing the "system installed" version of Google Maps, the "updates" remained. I went to Settings-Applications-Manage Applications and I found Maps there. I've uninstalled the updates then rebooted the phone. After that the icon was gone completely.
To conclude, for CM ROMS (or for all phones that are already rooted and have already the SU application), the steps to be performed for removing a system appl are:
1. Install Titanium Backup
2. Press (as instructed) "Problems" button. This will install a working version of busybox.
3. Check if the application you want to remove, has also updates (from Market or some other places) installed. If YES, go to Settings-Applications-Manage Applications and uninstall all the updates.
4. Start Titanium Backup and perform the steps indicated in the first post by TheLegendaryJay.
So it is working on custom ROM's as well and you don't need VISIONary or other application/tools.
All credits go to Paul, CM team and this whole community, the ones which made such things possible for our phones. TheLegendaryJay, thank you also for sharing this with us. Perhaps for rooted phones it is easier to remove applications with adb commands, but some are maybe not so technical to install the SDK or know how to use it (I can be counted as one of them), or they just might want to remove an application when they don't have a pc with SDK nearby.
yap, can confirm this. works great on cm 6.1 rc1. thanks for the hint
For you guys who are rooted - why not just flash the overlay filesystem patch, enable it, and then use any file explorer and go to /system/app/ and delete the apps you dont want? just a tip, it's much easier.. (and takes less time)
Because one of the reasons for which I wanted to rip out an application from the ROM is to gain some more space... By using overlay system, as I understood, you're practically duplicate the whole system to make it accessible for writing so I don't know if you gain some more space. Eventually you'll have less. Or, if that space is on the sdcard, that does not suit me also cause as I know, is working slower from there. Anyhow, I don't want to detail this here cause we'll be off-topic.
Rapier said:
Because one of the reasons for which I wanted to rip out an application from the ROM is to gain some more space... By using overlay system, as I understood, you're practically duplicate the whole system to make it accessible for writing so I don't know if you gain some more space. Eventually you'll have less. Or, if that space is on the sdcard, that does not suit me also cause as I know, is working slower from there. Anyhow, I don't want to detail this here cause we'll be off-topic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I understand it, the system folder is only linked so the phone believes it's on the SD-card. This should mean, no extra space is taken (except for the few kB that makes this possible). i could be wrong, but I use system overlay and I see no whatsoever decrease in performance. Not in benchmarks nor in usage.
If you are rooted - and dont want system overlay, I still think there is a better wway - ADB! just mount system, cd to system/app, ls it and rm whatever apps ypu dont want.. no need for multiple reboots - quick and effective
adb way might be quicker but it might prove to be ineffective (at least for me it was). In order to remove an application, you must check its filename (with ls command). I've tried to remove Facebook and Twitter applications using adb remove and guess what...they're still there. I admit I might have done something wrong, what I'm saying is that through this new method described above, someone is able to remove an appl by chosing it from a list. For the ones that don't feel so confortable using adb, this is an alternative
Sent from my Legend using XDA App
Rapier said:
adb way might be quicker but it might prove to be ineffective (at least for me it was). In order to remove an application, you must check its filename (with ls command). I've tried to remove Facebook and Twitter applications using adb remove and guess what...they're still there. I admit I might have done something wrong, what I'm saying is that through this new method described above, someone is able to remove an appl by chosing it from a list. For the ones that don't feel so confortable using adb, this is an alternative
Sent from my Legend using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When it comes to ADB, you must write the filename exactly as it is, if you want to remove Facebook.apk you must rm Facebook.apk, not facebook.apk or just rm Facebook*
What I do, I ls all files, copy the filenames I want to remove into into a txt file. ex. "rm facebook.apk Torch.apk voiceDialer.apk AndroidTerm.apk" and so on. When I flash a new rom, i just copy that file string and remove em all with that one command ofc. I ls it after and check if there is anything new I want to remove, but I get rid of most of it in a few seconds. (good tip!)
I understood that. Now I've checked again and I know what happened...the same thing I said above. The appl was removed also with adb command but the updates of that appl were not. I've removed the updates from Settings and after that the whole appl was gone (Facebook in this case). So both metods work, everyone can choose what he likes more
Anyway this was much more to test if it's working on custom ROMs as was asked by TheLegendaryJay and less as of providing an alternate way for rooted owners.
Sent from my Legend using XDA App
You both are wrong. Overlay is just an overlay... it uses several file systems or parts of file systems (directories, files), merge them and show them to us as one new merged file system. The principle is such that if U have one read-only and one read-write file system merged together, all writes are then performed to that read-write one. If you'd like to delete one file from read-only portion, that action is noted on read-write portion and your system doesn't t see that file again through merged file system whereas it is in fact still there...
BlaY0 said:
You both are wrong. Overlay is just an overlay... it uses several file systems or parts of file systems (directories, files), merge them and show them to us as one new merged file system. The principle is such that if U have one read-only and one read-write file system merged together, all writes are then performed to that read-write one. If you'd like to delete one file from read-only portion, that action is noted on read-write portion and your system doesn't t see that file again through merged file system whereas it is in fact still there...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for this, great info. Now I'm glad I use adb and not file overlay for removing files
Why's that? Overlay is really handy thing for testing... U can make the system think that the file is not there but in fact is. If something goes wrong (boot loop) because of that, U just disable overlay and U R back on with origial state. After U are satisfied with changes, U can merge those changes into read-only file system via recovery mode.
Sent from my HTC Legend
BlaY0, you're totally right. Overlay is a great thing for testing (and by the way many thanks you for what you did). But if you're not a tester, just an enthusiast who look for new stuff for his phone, overlay could be much more than he needs.
I'm looking for example to have as much free space in memory as possible. REAL free space. If I'm using overlay, that will not be gained right? The read only files will still be there, only the overlay will show them "deleted". So...what I'm doing instead is that I'm flashing one of the existing ROMs (as per my preferences - CM 6.1 RC1 for ex.) that will not "brick" my phone, I customize it with widgets and applications as I like, than I start deleting what I don't need. For sure I can use overlay for that, but I can do it also without it. This topic presented an alternative for doing that, to the known adb commands. Also from what I've understood, the method in this topic is more aimed to the ones that are not (or don't want to be) rooted. And for those, the adb method doesn't work
You sure are totally right, but then again if you deleted some apk from /system/app that is needed for some other apk and U didn't know about that, you could end up with a so called boot loop. And if this is done by some noob, the simplest way for him to restore would be to wipe and reflash the original ROM. Overay can prevent such accidents. Actually even with overlay you can save space especially where is needed the most, that's on data partition - there's no need for dex in dalvik-cache any more etc. and surely you get more free ram as that app isn't loading any more. For the system partition it actually doesn't matter if it is full in fact why it shouldn't be full. When we get our S-OFF the first thing I will do is to rearange mtd partitions shrinking system and extending data coz now I have like nearly 50 MB free on system partition that I can not use wisely.
Sent from my HTC Legend
Thanks, VF music and web app not banished from my Legend
Okay, I must be doing something wrong, but I have no idea what. I have the same ROM as Rapier on my Desire, I have Titanium Backup and I did everything he said above. The pre-installed apps are uninstalled with TB (Car app, News and Weather, Facebook, Twitter, Google Voice, Maps, Quickoffice 2.0 which I have no idea what really is), I clear the Dalvik cache and many mega are freed. Then if I reboot, they're back. Like nothing happened.
Do you have any idea or should I give more details? Thanks for the help, guys.
Have you checked also if those applications you're removing do not have some updates installed? Because if they do, you'll get them back on the phone. First remove the updates from each application (from normal "Application" management), then remove the application residing in system with TB.
PS. QuickOffice is a suite program similar with MS Office, that allows you to read (and in the paid version also to write) office documents (.doc, .xls, .ppt...etc)
Thank you for your quick reply.
Yes, I have checked and uninstalled all updates. They are all with the basic version.
About Quickoffice, I know what it is It's just that the one that came with CM 6.1.0 RC1 cannot be accessed, it can only be used to open supported file formats (I just found out after posting here ). I'd prefer the normal Quickoffice with which I can access my dropbox and Google docs too, that's why I wanted to uninstall this in the first place.
Is there any way or any command which can save my installed set of applications to a Text file or PDF. My applications are growing and I cannot remember every one of them and I require all of them at one point or other. Can anyone give me some guidance?
You could use titanium backup, it does have an option to create an update.zip file for your backups which I haven't used but I assume it backs up your apps to the zip so you can reinstall apps from recovery, would need someone to clarify this though
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
I was using back up pro but it is no use. Suppose you flash a new rom, and if you restore most of them end up with Force Close errors. Since most of my applications are free, I don't mind spending some time installing them. But since many roms are changing so fast, I have to flash to keep up with the times, you know.
I don't know if there is such an option to save a list of installed apps, but it would be kinda useful.
I soon realized such a list would help and I am just manually creating my own in a text file, and all of the non-stock apps I have (thus far) added are in appbrain.com and I have ensured I have added each to "Apps on the phone" which then appears under "My Apps".
A list no but as all my apps are via AppBrain that's my list .
I use Root Explorer to copy all the APKS to a folder on the external card + a copy on PC . New firmware just open APK folder and install .
jje
For the time being, I am using Titanium free version and it backed up my applications and after I flashed the new rom I was able to restore all the applications via it's batch run commands. I do hope that I don't get force close errors. Upto now everything is working fine.
Thanks to all for your kind replies
hi there....i did not found anything about...so i want to ask:
does anyone know how to disconnect apps from market. i do not want a launcher update or a gmaps update...because of free memory problems.
want to keep gmaps 4.7 on the milestone....every version above sucks....
so if i could disconnect it...autoupdates an notifications could keeps its function
bye
greets from germany
great question, i would like to know the same thing too, I do not want to install the newest facebook updates, but the market keeps showing me updates available.
it´s more an annoyance than a problem, really - but if there IS a way to "fix" it, then I would like to know
If your device is rooted, use root explorer to pull the app's apk file from data/apps to a folder somewhere on your sd card. Then, uninstall the app, and sideload the apps you pulled out earlier. It will not have a connection to the market this way.
Sent from my MB526 using XDA App
in other words: make a copy of apk, uninstall, mv backuped apk to old place?
unfortunately, that does not work. at least it does not ALWAYS work.
because that is exactly what I already did - I hated the new Facebook app, so I downloaded the old version 1.5.2 APK from our german Android forums, and sideloaded it - but it still shows up in the Market with the red "update" text beside it.
just found something, that seems to work.
go to market, cklick update, abort download, --> disconnect
worked for me 2 times now. but i use froyo with old market...do not know if it works for the new ones.
Not move backup back into data/app, but install the apk from SD.
Sent from my MB526 using XDA App
Titanium Backup can detach and reattach apps from the market. Do a long press on the app to get the menu with that option.
Hi. I am using the official CyanogenMod ROM for SGA. What happened is that I installed its first nightly build, uninstalled the live wallpapers and the live wallpaper picker. Then went to install the updates that followed.
However, I've noticed that the said apps that I uninstalled before were still uninstalled after the updates. And while reinstalling them was a success, they didn't work. Choosing one of the live wallpapers will do a force close.
I know this is not a big deal. But I want to know why that's happening.
Also, another question. I'm using S2E. Is there a way to move certain apps (like handcent, go launcher ex, etc) back in the REAL internal memory while retaining the other apps in sd-ext? Thank you.
d4ryl3 said:
Hi. I am using the official CyanogenMod ROM for SGA. What happened is that I installed its first nightly build, uninstalled the live wallpapers and the live wallpaper picker. Then went to install the updates that followed.
However, I've noticed that the said apps that I uninstalled before were still uninstalled after the updates. And while reinstalling them was a success, they didn't work. Choosing one of the live wallpapers will do a force close.
I know this is not a big deal. But I want to know why that's happening.
Also, another question. I'm using S2E. Is there a way to move certain apps (like handcent, go launcher ex, etc) back in the REAL internal memory while retaining the other apps in sd-ext? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah you can move appz to phone memory. Launchers, widgets are must to keep in phone memory. Otherwise they'll not work. Try moving them in manage appz option in settings then move to phone
Sent from my Galaxy S IV
d4ryl3 said:
Hi. I am using the official CyanogenMod ROM for SGA. What happened is that I installed its first nightly build, uninstalled the live wallpapers and the live wallpaper picker. Then went to install the updates that followed.
However, I've noticed that the said apps that I uninstalled before were still uninstalled after the updates. And while reinstalling them was a success, they didn't work. Choosing one of the live wallpapers will do a force close.
I know this is not a big deal. But I want to know why that's happening.
Also, another question. I'm using S2E. Is there a way to move certain apps (like handcent, go launcher ex, etc) back in the REAL internal memory while retaining the other apps in sd-ext? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use link2sd bro... it works as an app .. so u can easily manage apps just choose the app from where u installed and move it to sd then phone memory ....
believe me really really easy.... and does the same works as s2e.... rather s2e will slow ur ROM in long process but link2sd won't .. just click on clear cache easy
With the Cyanogenmod problem, try flashing the version your on again without any wipes.
Sent from my GT-S5830 using my hands
plus i think u need to manually put the live wall paper apk in system apk by root broser..and then set permission to rw-r-r
Hey, thanks for all the replies. Sorry it's just now. I found out that live wallpapers were working only in the first nightly release of the said ROM, then it was removed on the succeeding ones.
I've tried Link2SD. Well I had a problem with it. One time after reboot, the partition didn't get recognized, thus I had to reinstall everything. I'm sticking with S2E for now. Thanks people.
I didn't found awswer to this anywere so here it goes.
A couple of weeks ago i was playing cut the rope, then the phone frezze reboted itself and half of my apps had disapeared (market, gmapps, gmail, file expert, youtube, zdbox, launcher pro, etc) but others like google sky, titanium backup, some games, mixzing stayed there.
1st of all i can't understand the logic behind this but thats not why i am here but if someone explains it i would be greatful.
Then i restored some with titanium backup and the market app i had to install the apk with appinstaller because i couldn't with titanium.
Now my problem is when i try to install file expert and other that i didn't had a backup, because when i try to install them throught market i get an error saying that its not possible to install the app in the predefined directory or something like that. The error message is in Portuguese so i'm translating the best i can.
I'm also afraid that these apps are occupying space even though they don't appear anywhere on the phone.
So can anyone please explain what is going on and how i fix this?
My phone is rooted, obviously and i don't remember the name of the rom since its a vanilla rom very similar to the original one.
Thx in advance
Manphius said:
I didn't found awswer to this anywere so here it goes.
A couple of weeks ago i was playing cut the rope, then the phone frezze reboted itself and half of my apps had disapeared (market, gmapps, gmail, file expert, youtube, zdbox, launcher pro, etc) but others like google sky, titanium backup, some games, mixzing stayed there.
1st of all i can't understand the logic behind this but thats not why i am here but if someone explains it i would be greatful.
Then i restored some with titanium backup and the market app i had to install the apk with appinstaller because i couldn't with titanium.
Now my problem is when i try to install file expert and other that i didn't had a backup, because when i try to install them throught market i get an error saying that its not possible to install the app in the predefined directory or something like that. The error message is in Portuguese so i'm translating the best i can.
I'm also afraid that these apps are occupying space even though they don't appear anywhere on the phone.
So can anyone please explain what is going on and how i fix this?
My phone is rooted, obviously and i don't remember the name of the rom since its a vanilla rom very similar to the original one.
Thx in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wipe everything .simplest solution
Sent from my GT-S5570 using xda premium
arpitkh96 said:
Wipe everything .simplest solution
Sent from my GT-S5570 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i was trying to avoid that but its probably the best solution. Anyway, i found some interesting roms out there so i'll probably just try them out and erase everything in the meantime.
thx